Working with Liverpool Heart and Chest NHS Foundation Trust
Gilling Dod were appointed to help deliver the modernisation and restructuring of the catheter laboratory’s extensive facilities.
Client
Liverpool Heart and Chest NHS Foundation Trust
Location
Liverpool, Merseyside
Value
£15,000,000
Gross internal floor area
1,500m2
THE PROJECT
Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital provides specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine including adult cystic fibrosis and diagnostic imaging.
The proposed refurbishment of the Cath Lab department is extensive as it requires modernisation and restructuring of the facilities.
Working with the Trust under short timescales, we explored two design options that were developed to RIBA 2 in response to the Operational Board Paper.
OUR APPROACH
The replacement of the existing fixed imaging equipment in the current 5 labs was a key priority of the business case. With the outlook for Cath Lab activity over the medium term showing annual growth, we were required to develop a proposal that provided an additional 2 labs, taking the total number of labs to 7.
A decant lab was already on site to mitigate the risks of operational failure of the current imaging equipment, and it was essential that our proposals incorporated the new layout of the decant lab. The construction phasing also had to allow for a minimum of 5 labs to remain in operation throughout the construction period.
WHAT WE DID
Trust User Engagement for the previous phases was extensive, with a lengthy user engagement programme with key staff such as the clinical procedure leads, support staff, Estates and IT departments, infection control and the Trust’s Fire Officer.
We are also restarting additional user engagement for Lab 7, after the Trust began exploring alternative procedure method options that would further enhance the Trust’s already strong offering.
We are currently working with a robotic operations / scanner equipment provider to understand equipment requirements, and how these could fit in to a space previously designed for traditional procedure scanner equipment.
THE IMPACT
The Cath Labs have been strategically grouped into specialised ‘hubs’ to promote collaboration among staff and the sharing of resources.
To enhance privacy, dignity, and the overall patient experience, separate patient flows have been established for elective and emergency cases.
We’ve also made significant improvements to the endoscopy suite, ensuring it remains adaptable to evolving activities and technologies for the next decade.
Furthermore, we’ve successfully integrated the reconfigured Decant Lab into the new facility with minimal adjustments, preserving its functionality and efficiency.
